How To: $20 Dollar DIY Rev Lights - Arduino / SimHub

Support the stream: streamlabs.com/simpitlive Yesterday during a 2 part 5 hour stream I built a DIY Rev Light bar that would attach to my monitor bezel. This would be very easy to see and help me time my shifts and other racing conditions that this bar can display.
The heart of the project was the software interface called Simhub. This software interfaces with sim titles and converts in game indicators into a visual signal, such as rev lights, pit limiter lights, flag conditions and more. You combine that software with an Arduino nano board and a simple strip of multicolored LED lights and you have an under $20 dollar light system for your sim.
After taking 5 hours for what could be done in as little as 15 minutes I have decided to do it again. This time we will do a much more clear and concise version live on You Tube. I show you the parts needed and how to quickly get up and running with Simhub for Arduino LEDs.
Shaun's Equipment:
Rseat S1 Racing Chassis
Sim Xperience Accuforce Steering Wheel
Ricmotech Real Gear GT Pro Pedals
Ricmotech Real Gear Pro Handbrake
Simpit Pitcrew Channel: / @thesimpitcrew
Please subscribe to The Simpit here: / @thesimpit
Our Patreon page: / thesimpit
For more sim racing news and shows please visit our website: www.thesimpit.com/
#Simpit #simracing

[@clivemetcalfe2679]

An absolute pleasure watching a master at work 🤣

[@rallybucca]

Could you link which led strip you bought? I wanna make sure I do this one right. Thanks in advanced for this amazing video. Can't wait to build mine!

[@gmarch]

Thanks for the video. I tried to build what you showed here with a strip with 144 LEDs, but the performance was very bad. To explore performance I tried telling SimHub that there were only 70 LEDs. The performance was better, but still poor. Did you experience the same thing?

[@adrianstealth340]

I would recommend VR ,
But great vid covering diy tech stuff big thanks

[@dominothegrinch]

This is a long shot but I want to do this in my actual car. I wasn't looking for a dinky shift light, I want an actual RGB set up connected to my Tach, so as the RPM goes up, i get the visual representation for it. I've yet to see something like that IRL so hopefully it something that's doable.

[@honeyboner]

Each individual led should be about 60ma current so a 37 led strip would be about 2 amps. Most computers USB ports are rated at .5 amps or .9 for USB 3. I personally wouldn't run this without an external power supply or at least not off the computer, I'd use an external hub.
Adafruit, the originator of neopixels says that if you aren't using white light, they should draw 30-50% current but if something goes wrong you can overheat or burn out electronics on your mobo.

[@RamjetX]

I would recommend an Arduino pro micro instead these days. Make sure it has a Atmel 32u4 5V 16Mhz model.
Reason is simply that clone nano boards can have fake serial port converters on them and at risk of the FTDI manufacturer of that chip bricking it when detecting it as a fake.
So get the pro micro. The onboard native USB in the Atmel chip can't be faked. It also supports game pad emulation. Way better and no risk of being caught out with fake ICs

[@gabo5600]

Hey man I'm trying to do this with a LED strip, and I have an arduino Pro Micro sitting at home, I was wondering if it's the same as a Nano? same connection stuff and everything? (cable soldering wise)

[@RamjetX]

@@gabo5600 Yep it will work exactly like the nano in Simhub... :)
I should add, so long as it's the 5 Volt DC version, not 3.3V

[@gabo5600]

@@RamjetX Awesome thanks! and this should work with any cheap led strip right?

[@RamjetX]

@@gabo5600 yeah... its an arduino.. you can (even if you need to tinker with code a litte) make it work with anything

[@BlueBanana421]

There is a right and a wrong end to connect the LED strip with the Arduino. By default these strips have cables on both end, but only the input one, that one that flows with the little arrows printed on the strips works..

[@TheAdminFromHell]

And that is the problem I'm having right now, thank you

[@glawk0ma877]

So... After 3 boards, and a full set of lights, I finally figured out why you and I couldn't get our lights to work. You have the arrows pointing towards your board/power. I didn't get my lights to work until I switched that order.

[@genotsSnor]

You mean for the solding?

[@OCClark]

it keeps failing for me what do i do???

[@nextrider123]

i cant figure out how to give arduino the administrative rights on the simhub arduino setup

[@jacobydavis3953]

Does this work for a real race car?

[@TheSimpit]

If you know how to do the wiring, it should work

[@marcw.5492]

!!
Run the GAME ...

[@killersquid867]

time for glass old man hey it happens

[@Syncere77Wilson]

You Ramble too much for the person looking for information quickly